Let's talk about prusiks

[mudsocks]

It seems to me that there have been a number of threads lately about slippery prusiks. Some folks have suggested that it's due to a coating on the Dyneema. Some suggest up to six loops are needed. Others say different diameter rope is necessary. I've even seen claim that prusiks aren't capable providing enough tension to hold a tarp!

It's been my experience that my loops just weren't tight enough to provide the friction necessary for a good bite. Just working the loops tighter did the trick. No sliding, extra loops or different diameter rope required.

Does anyone with rope experience & knowledge care to comment?

[lokbot]

I prefer to make my prusiks out of zing it. They're small and lock on like a pitbull. I also use a klemheist instead of a standard prusik when I need more bite. I rarely use more than 3 or 4 loops with mine and have never had slippage issues.


-Loki

[Jcavenagh]

I've been using prussics on my ridgeline and tie-outs for a few years. While I only had a problem with prussics due to the type of line I used once, I have never had an issue with Zing-It to Zing-It prussics once I got the loops properly lined up. I found that if I let the loops overlap I did have a problem with slip. But after backing everything off and then aligning the loops properly (3 loops) I had no problems. I think having the proper surface area in touch with the static line is the key.

I recently switched my ridgeline set up to eliminate the prussics. I like it better because it is actually easier to tighten and secure the whole thing. But I still use the prussics to adjust my tie-out lines.

[HighlandHorde]

The rule of thumb is that the prussic knot needs use a smaller diameter rope to work properly. A lot of the time you can "get by" using and extra wrap or two.

[pgibson]

As someone that started suggesting the use of the prussic knot for tarp ridgeline and guylines years ago and have been making them that way for nearly as long I personally think they are a great option. With coated lines you may need 3 or 4 wraps of the prussic around the standing line to get a good bite...I do 4 on all of the guy line kits and Ridgeline kits that use prussics that we produce. You do not need a different size line to make it work, but as the OP stated it does need to be tightened well to grip. In a climbing point of view then yes diffrent size between the two ropes is proper and advised....climbed for 15 years and used prussics all the time. But for guylines and tarp ridgelines its a bit of a different animal. I have made hundreds and hundreds of prussics over the past 4 years for customers and my own tarp lines, everyone of them is pulled on to the point of gripping the line before it gets bagged. Not one of them has slipped and they are all made from the same size cord.

[pebbles]

+1 on using the klemheist knot

[Mouseskowitz]

+1 on using a klemheist

[mudsocks]

I've not had problems with prusiks but three votes for the klemheist has my curiosity piqued. "Any issues under windy conditions?" I said hijacking my own thread.

[pebbles]

Never had any problem with either prussic or klemheist knots. I just believe that the latter has more grip. That why I use it.

[fallkniven]

I've not had problems with prusiks but three votes for the klemheist has my curiosity piqued. "Any issues under windy conditions?" I said hijacking my own thread.

don't forget the icicle hitch